Tiger's Strength

by Kimberly A Rogers

  Simon looked her over with a slowness that made Madoc want to protest his manners, but Celeste seemed to preen at his lingering gaze. Simon nodded and slugged Charlie in the arm. “Get the door for her. We’ll give you a ride anywhere you want, sweetheart.”

  Charlie almost fell on his face in his attempt to get out of the truck. He never even acknowledged Madoc’s existence as he scrambled to help Celeste with her bag and then to slide into the truck. As soon as Charlie got back in and slammed the door, Celeste leaned against Simon and whispered something before she smiled at Charlie. The cousins looked utterly smitten before Simon pulled a quick U-turn and started driving away.

  Madoc stared after the truck until it vanished around the bend and behind the tree line. He shook his head. Celeste must have had some special charm because he had never seen Simon so distracted since Charlie first introduced him to the older Tiger. Charlie’s distraction was less awe inspiring since he liked anything female and breathing that so much as glanced at him. Whatever they had risked coming near the lodge for must not have been pressing. Not if they drove off without so much as a word to him.

  ΘΘΘΘΘΘ

  Raina

  “How dare you.”

  I raised both eyebrows in response to the Tigress’ icy words. Propping my hands on my hips, I didn’t bother to hide my growing irritation with the woman. “Are you seriously going to try to turn this on me? Like I did something wrong?”

  Venetia’s nostrils flared slightly as her voice somehow grew even frostier as she replied, “You have done more wrong here and in Baran’s life than I can begin to count. To make it worse, you have brought ruin and shame on my family with your ill breeding and even poorer manners. Celeste may have been out of bounds, but clearly she believed this little farce of affection as little as I did or else she would not have taken the risk.”

  “You are a terrible judge of character,” I retorted.

  “Divorce Baran. It is a simple manner. Even in peace marriages, it occurs.”

  I stared into her unblinking eyes for a long moment. “You’re serious.” An incredulous laugh slipped free as I shook my head. “You are absurd. And to think that I have been trying so hard to make a good impression on you because you are Baran’s mother, and I didn’t want to be the source of conflict during the holiday because that’s not what family gatherings are supposed to involve. At least, they don’t in my family. But now?”

  I gave another laugh, this one tinged more with bitterness, as I brushed my hair out of my face. “And I can’t even tell you why I’ve done that, tried so hard, now that I know the truth about everything and have seen how you treat your own son. I just can’t explain why I’ve put so much effort into it.”

  Venetia’s hands were still clasped in front of her, but her knuckles were whitening as her golden eyes bore into me. “You know nothing about which you speak. Your lack of knowledge has been attested to by both you and my son from the moment you arrived with your first insult as a greeting.”

  “Yes, well, mea culpa.” I took half a step toward her, raising a hand to point at her, as I continued, “Believe me, I won’t make the mistake of honoring you with the Demirci name ever again. Especially because I know the truth. The whole messy truth. Baran told me all of it last night.”

  Venetia paled, and her hand rose to her throat. “No. He would not.”

  “Not normally,” I conceded easily enough before I scowled at her. “Last night wasn’t normal. He only told me because he was desperate for me to believe that he could never be like his mother.” Venetia flinched, but I didn’t pause as the words came faster. “You should be ashamed and not for what you did to Badir, that’s over and done, but for what you have done to your eldest son. He’s done what he is supposed to as the eldest son. He followed the edicts, and you should be thanking the Creator that he is such a stringent adherer to all the edicts of the Way. Otherwise, Baran would likely have absolutely nothing to do with you or your children with Roderick because your behavior certainly doesn’t bring to mind warm images of maternal love.”

  I shook my head, barely keeping a trembling snarl out of my voice, as I continued, “Baran is one of the most honorable men I have ever met. Yet, you have spent this week and even years acting as though he doesn’t exist unless you want something from him. Mothers aren’t supposed to choose favorites. They aren’t supposed to shun one child and elevate the others. And, you only want to use him. We’ve been married over a year, and you only reached out to him now because you had it in your mind that Thanksgiving was the perfect time to try to force Baran to divorce his wife because you don’t think I’m good enough.”

  I glared at her as the words came out faster. “Well, I have news for you. I might not be a pureblood Therian and definitely not a Tiger, but I am from an honorable family. Maybe Baran and I never would have married under different circumstances. We wouldn’t have taken the time to look beyond the obvious surface differences in our temperaments. But, we are married. We are committed to our vows and to each other. And, I will be damned before I let anyone come in and tear our marriage apart because we have worked too hard and shed too much blood to get where we are. Baran almost died in February!”

  I stopped, the words catching in my throat as memories shook me. I took a shaky breath and continued in a fierce whisper, “He almost died. And, I am not going to stand by and watch his own mother hurt him now. We may not always get along or agree on things. Creator knows, we have our fights. But none of that gives anyone the right to sweep in and attempt to break up our marriage, not even you. And, you know what else? Baran can be ridiculously insufferable, and I would happily throttle him during those times when he is more concerned about rules and protocols than going with one’s gut instinct about what’s right but he is mine. It is part of what makes him Baran, and he is mine. You had better believe that I am going to fight anyone who tries to hurt him.”

  Venetia stood as still as an ice sculpture. Her anger carried the icy bite of a winter blizzard, but I didn’t care. My own anger burned hot and fierce as I stared down the woman who had helped inflict so many wounds on my Tiger and not just during this horrible holiday. My voice shook with an unvoiced growl as I added, “No one deserves to come home and have their mother tell them that they are not good enough for her love. And that is exactly what you have been telling Baran since the moment you told Badir to keep him.” Venetia flinched, but I really didn’t care. “You know what else, Venetia? I am so grateful you made that choice because it breaks my heart to even consider how cold and unfeeling Baran would have turned out if he hadn’t had his father to balance out the damage you left in your wake.”

  Venetia dropped to sit on the settee, but I didn’t stick around for her to gain her voice. If she even so much as breathed something against Baran, I probably wouldn’t be able to keep the Leopard from following through on her desire to poke holes in certain Tiger pelts. Spinning on my heel, I hurried out of the room without another glance at the Tigress.

  I was almost to the stairs leading to the guest wing and Baran when I almost collided with Roderick. The older man immediately raised his hands in a placating manner. I realized I had hissed at him. I was so tired of being surrounded by Tigers. One was more than enough for me. Clearing my throat, I offered a polite nod. “Baran and I won’t be staying for Thanksgiving dinner after all. We’ve had an upsetting time dealing with Celeste, and I think it will be better for Baran if we go home now.”

  Roderick’s gaze flicked from my face to the direction I had come from before returning to me. He dipped his head. “I understand.”

  “Good.”

  I moved around him only to pause when he called after me. When I looked back, he wore a rather chagrined expression. “I made many mistakes when I met Venetia. I let my infatuation with her override both my good sense and my honor. People suffered because I wasn’t strong enough to resist and . . . I wish I could change how the past unfolded.”

  “Everyone has moments we’d li
ke to erase. While our actions are long past, we still must live with their scars and consequences no matter the mercies of the Creator.” I paused before adding, “It is how we choose to handle those scars and consequences that define us in the present.”

  ΘΘΘΘΘΘ

  Chapter Nineteen

  Baran

  Raina was zipping up her bag when I came out of the bathroom. Her perfume was much lighter than usual, allowing me to easily pick out the sharp agitation mixed with a warm and fierce protectiveness. I eyed the bags on the bed and the open wardrobe that was devoid of all clothing. “What happened to staying for dinner?”

  My mate shook her head. She had pinned her braid up to expose her slightly pointed ears and was already moving as she picked up her wool coat. Therian gold eyes considered me before her lips firmed. “We are done. This holiday . . .” she trailed off with an exasperated expression crossing her face. “I never meant for this to be so . . . horrible, and I have had enough of toxic Tigers. We’re going home.”

  Reaching out, I caught her by the hand before she could shrug into her coat. I waited until she was looking up at me to speak. “I don’t blame you. Nothing that has happened over the last three days has been your fault.”

  Raina’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Well other than my saying yes to Venetia’s trap of an invitation, which is the only reason we are even here.” She pulled her hand free before I could say anything else and shrugged into her coat. She offered another quick smile that didn’t reach her eyes as she spoke with forced cheer, “Now hurry up and get your coat. And, your bag. Otherwise, I’ll get it and what would it look like if a Tigger couldn’t even carry his own bag, hmm?”

  A chuckle escaped me as I pulled her into a quick embrace and kissed the tip of her ear. Then, I grabbed my bag and coat and willingly followed her out of the room.

  No one came to see us off or to attempt to stop us as we walked through the lodge to the garage. I could hear the faint murmurs of a conversation between Venetia and Roderick, which had to mean a door was open to lessen the dampening effects of Therian-built walls, but didn’t care enough to attempt to eavesdrop. Madoc was nowhere to be seen and, more importantly, neither was Celeste. Although her scent was fairly fresh in the front entry of the lodge. I pitied the next male she decided to hunt since she acknowledged no bond as sacred.

  Dawn painted the horizon with a rosy light as we loaded the SUV and escaped the lodge. However, there was a silence in the vehicle that only grew heavier the longer I drove. I glanced over at my mate to find she was staring out the window with her elbow propped up as she tapped at her bottom lip. “What is it?”

  “Hmm?” Raina glanced over at me. “What do you mean?”

  I raised an eyebrow at her. “Raina, you are being quiet.”

  A faint smile curved her pink lips. “And, here I thought you liked me best when I’m quiet.”

  I snorted. I knew better than to agree with that statement. “I know the difference between your silences, Mouse. This silence is the one that always accompanies a puzzle that worries at you. So tell me what it is because I do not want to drive back to Virginia with this . . . silence. It is the wrong kind.”

  “I can’t believe you’re labeling and overanalyzing my silences.”

  “Raina.”

  She sighed as she lowered her hand. “All right, fine. It’s just . . . Why have you been so hard on Roderick?”

  I scowled at her. “That should be obvious.”

  Raina shook her head. “No, you need to use your words and explain it to me.”

  My grip tightened on the steering wheel for half a moment before I abruptly stopped the SUV. Normally, I wouldn’t have stopped in the middle of the road. However, we were still on the private road that led from the lodge to the main thoroughfare and I wasn’t going to be able to concentrate on driving with this topic.

  Twisting to face her completely, I worked hard to keep from growling at my mate. “He knew. He was my father’s friend and he knew that Venetia was married from the moment they were introduced. And while she had absolutely no business seeking for a lover, no matter how unhappy she made herself in marriage, Roderick is the one who should have resisted Venetia’s charms since she pursued him.” I took a steadying breath before adding harshly, “I resisted Eteri. An older Tiger like Roderick should have been able to do the same.”

  Raina’s expression softened, and she reached out to caress the back of my hand. “Have you ever considered that part or even a big chunk of the reason you were able to resist Eteri, that the idea of cheating on your best friend was so repugnant to you was because of Roderick and Venetia’s failings?”

  I yanked my hand away and turned to stare out the windshield once more. Gritting my teeth, I ground out, “Don’t compare me to them.”

  Raina immediately raised her hand. “I’m not. I promise you that I am not saying you are like them.” She paused as she tilted her head. “Well, other than you being rather reserved, which is somewhat like Venetia when you’re being honest about it.”

  She waved her hand dismissively when a low growl rumbled in my chest. “Yes, I know. Not allowed to mention it. But Baran, my point is the thing you consider most shameful about your past is what the Creator used to give you the strength and motivation to refuse a similar testing.”

  I huffed before grumbling, “I didn’t know Him very well at that particular time.”

  “He knew you.” Raina leaned across the center console and kissed my cheek. “Don’t discount the hard lessons due to their pain. We never need to speak of it again, but it is only right you credit those lessons too.”

  I cleared my throat. This openness about something as difficult as Venetia and Roderick’s roles in my past was . . . uncomfortable. I turned on the radio as I started driving again. Raina’s soft giggle reached my ears, but she didn’t say anything as classical music filled the former silence. Her silence was far better this time as well.

  We rounded the bend only for me to slam on the brakes as a shifted Tiger bounded across the road directly in front of us.

  “Baran, was that—?”

  “Madoc,” I confirmed without waiting for her to finish. For a moment, I let the engine idle. Madoc hadn’t even slowed as he crossed in front of us. His striped pelt had already vanished into the snow laden woods on the other side of the road. He was an adult now and more than capable of making his own mistakes.

  I hesitated a moment longer, then shifted the SUV into park and turned off the engine. I had made a promise to my father the night before he died. I promised that I would obey the edicts and fulfill my responsibilities as the eldest son of Venetia . . . including looking out for any other cubs she might have in time. It was almost forty years before I needed to start keeping that promise, when Madoc was born, but . . . I wasn’t going to break my word, not to my father.

  Raina was already out of the vehicle when I rounded the front. We exchanged a glance and then I nodded. Shifting into our Beast forms, we quickly followed in Madoc’s wake.

  What was he doing out here?

  ΘΘΘΘΘΘ

  Raina

  I bounded along in the wake of my Tiger, taking advantage of the fact that his heavier weight and bigger build allowed him to further stamp down the snow where Madoc had already charged through. There was a strong scent of worry mixed in with Madoc’s trail. Something that peaked my interest.

  Baran’s stride slowed abruptly, and I bounced into his haunches before sliding around, purposefully brushing along his right side, to see what was going on now. Baran’s attention was fixed on the Tiger who was sniffing at a snow bank, lips pulled back and muzzle wrinkled as he focused on tasting the air. One ear twitched and then the Tiger whirled to face us.

  For a moment I wondered if Madoc would try to run or even fight. Then his shoulders relaxed and he hung his head. His tail twitched before he picked his way back toward us. “I think we might have a problem.”

  “And what is that?” Baran demanded.r />
  I would have nipped him for being rude but . . . Well, at this rate, it was a miracle he was even speaking without growling or roaring at his younger brother.

  Madoc must have had similar thoughts since he flicked his ears flat against his skull before raising them once more. “Celeste left the lodge about an hour ago. She refused to let me give her a ride into town and instead caught a ride with . . . some friends of mine. But, they never made it into town. They abandoned the truck on an offshoot trail. Something’s not right about it and . . . I’m worried there were injuries or that Celeste got herself lost since she’s not from around here.”

  There was something more to his story. Something he wasn’t telling, but I decided not to press. As much as it curdled my stomach to have to interact with that . . . woman again, it was the right thing to do. Baran, however, didn’t respond right away as he stared down his brother. The size difference between them was almost laughable. Baran was bigger, longer, and bulkier than Madoc. Most definitely of a more ancient strand of Tigers. And, I felt even smaller than usual as Baran’s . . . greatness was emphasized.

  And, my paws were cold.

  Bumping into Baran, I managed to gain the attention of both Tigers. Eesh, it was enough to make my Leopard want to climb a tree to get some height advantage. I resolutely ignored the urge as I focused on my mate. “We came this far. We can hardly turn back now.”

  Baran dipped his head slightly. Then, he turned his attention back on his brother. “What do we need to know?”

  “She’s traveling with a group of Cougars . . . and two Tigers.”

  I felt Baran stiffen next to me. “Edmund?”

  Madoc shook his head. “No. Edmund is out of the New World for the winter. He’s busy breaking hearts in Africa.”